With thousands of riot police officers flocking the streets, helicopters swarming the skies and demonstrators rallying in a pro-Tibet prayer vigil, the morning of Saturday, April 26, witnessed the Olympic torch relay in Japan. Initial clashes between the Tibetan supporters and the police failed to disturb the passing of the Olympic flame.

 

The manager of Japan’s national baseball team happened to be the first runner and was surrounded by police guards in tracksuits. There were other 100 uniformed riot police officers running alongside six patrol cars and two lead motorcycles. In separate incidents, two men tried charging at the torch and were arrested by the police. A third man was seized later after he threw eggs at the flame.

 

The public was diffused and shops closed down at the beginning point of the Olympic torch relay. The Olympic torch relay, which marks its 16th international stop in Japan, was continuously disrupted by protests or conducted under extremely heavy security ever since it left Greece. These anti-China protests are in response to China’s onslaught the previous month on protests in Tibet and concerns over human rights issues in China.